Volunteers to virtually cycle 24,000km in Jadotville fundraiser

Hundreds of volunteers will virtually cycle, walk or run a combined distance of 24,000km over five days from June 29 to July 3 in aid of Jadotville veterans.

Organised by Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann, the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE), the charity cycle kicks off the beginning of a series of commemoration events to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jadotville Siege.

The Siege of Jadotville, made famous by a Netflix film, occurred in September 1961 when a contingent of Irish troops came under attack by Katangese forces during a peacekeeping mission in the town of Jadotville, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Irish soldiers withstood the attack for five days but were ultimately taken captive after running out of water and ammunition. They were subsequently kept hostage for 34 days before finally being released.

Set over five days to reflect on the five days Irish soldiers fought and resisted the Katangese forces, the challenge aims to raise funds for mental health services for veterans and raise awareness of the bravery the Jadotville Tigers displayed during the siege.

Those who served at Jadotville were largely ignored and mocked until a high profile resulted in the recognition of the bravery of Commandant Pat Quinlan and the soldiers of A Coy, 35th Inf. Bn.

The campaign veterans were eventually awarded medals honouring their bravery and courage in 2017 for their service to peacekeeping and to Ireland in what was a complex conflict.

Starting in Athlone, the volunteers will complete a total distance of 24,000km, which represents a round trip from Athlone to Jadotville. Awards and prizes are also awarded to participants at the end of the five day challenge.

Ollie O’Connor, CEO of ONE, said: “ONE supports Irish veterans through its three homes for homeless veterans in Dublin, Letterkenny and Athlone, with a fourth under development in Cobh. We also have 37 branches and 15 Veteran Support Centres nationwide.

“We warmly welcome the support from the Jadotville Challenge. I wish to thank the committee for their hard work and everybody who will honour the memory of those who took part in the battle by participating in the Challenge. Many of our usual fundraising events were cancelled due to Covid-19 and your support for this initiative is deeply appreciated.”

For more information on ONE, see one-veterans.org, and for more on the Siege of Jadotville and to register for the event, visit jadotvillechallenge.com.